Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) issued the following statement today after Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 2466, which will allow convicted felons serving their sentences in county jail to vote while behind bars.

“It is very disappointing that felons still serving their sentences behind bars will now be able to vote since Governor Brown failed to veto this really bad bill,” said Bates. “For me, this bill is not about second chances, but about maintaining the integrity of elections. Close elections, especially at the local level, could now turn on a handful of ballots cast by people in jail. This new law is bad for democracy and will further erode trust in government.”